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Alteryx Conversion Matrix

PlaidCloud converts Alteryx workflows, apps, and macros into native Advanced workflows. The importer maps each Alteryx tool to a workflow step, macro construct, controlled variable, Document-backed file operation, or managed job executor — so a converted workflow runs cloud-native, not as an emulation.

Nearly every standard Alteryx tool converts fully. The support status below is per tool:

  • Full — converts to a native PlaidCloud step, macro, variable, artifact, or managed executor and runs the tool’s function. Most tools are here.
  • Partial — converts and runs for its common use, while one distinct capability mode of the tool is not yet reproduced. Rare.
  • Not supported — no conversion; the capability is rebuilt natively instead.

External-system connectors (Salesforce, HTTP, Google Analytics, Cassandra, email, Hadoop, Spark, and the like) are connected, not converted — see Connecting to External Systems.

Alteryx Tool Status PlaidCloud Equivalent Converts
Action Full Variable binding and conditional step configuration Updates downstream step settings from converted app inputs.
Append Fields Full Append fields transform Appends fields from one stream to another.
Auto Field Full Auto field sizing transform Preserves inferred field sizing.
Barcode Full Barcode executor Reads or writes barcodes in the configured symbology.
Browse Full Browse / passthrough Preserved for inspection with no runtime cost.
Buffer Full Spatial Buffer Grows each geometry by a fixed distance.
Calgary Cross Count Full Calgary database aggregate Groups indexed fields and counts each custom field’s named values.
Calgary Cross Count Append Full Calgary Cross Count Append Matches each input record against a value index, then counts how many database records it matched.
Calgary Input Full Calgary database input Reads the database with its saved query applied as a filter.
Calgary Join Full Calgary Join Matches each record against a value index on the database, keeping the records that matched.
Calgary Loader Full Calgary database writer Writes the stand-in table every Calgary reader binds to.
Centroid Full Centroid executor op Reduces each geometry to its centre point, appended as a Centroid column.
Check Box Full Controlled workflow variable Converts app check-box choices to controlled input.
Classification Full ML: Train Model Fuses the Assisted Modeling chain into one ML Train step with its algorithm, target, features, and hyperparameters.
Comment / Annotation / Link Full Canvas annotation Preserved as workflow context.
Condition Full Step condition Triggers warnings, errors, or branches from an expression.
Control Parameter Full Macro control parameter Maps to PlaidCloud macro parameters.
Convex Hull Full Convex Hull executor op Builds the smallest convex polygon enclosing each geometry, appended as a ConvexHull column.
Create Points Full Table Extract with geom_point Builds point geometry from longitude/latitude columns, in SQL.
Create Samples Full Table Extract, one per output Splits input into Estimation, Validation, and Holdout at the configured percentages.
Cross Tab Full Pivot / cross-tab transform Pivots rows to columns across every aggregation method and the derived totals.
Data Cleansing Full Data cleanse transform Cleans whitespace, nulls, punctuation, and casing.
Date Full Workflow variable (date) Emits ISO date values for steps and conditions.
DateTime Full Date/time transform Converts date and time parsing and formatting.
Detour Full Conditional branch routing Converts route selection to DAG conditions.
Detour End Full Conditional branch merge Rejoins conditionally selected branches.
Directory Full Document directory listing Lists files from a Document path.
Distance Full Table Extract with ST_DISTANCE_SPHERE Geodesic point-to-point distance and bearing, in SQL.
Download Full HTTP download executor Downloads external data or artifacts.
Drop Down Full Controlled workflow variable Converts app drop-down choices to controlled input.
Dynamic Input Full Dynamic Document input Resolves file patterns and variable-driven inputs at runtime.
Dynamic Rename Full Dynamic rename transform Renames fields from metadata or rules.
Dynamic Replace Full Dynamic replace transform Applies replacement rules from a second stream.
Dynamic Select Full Dynamic field selection transform Selects fields by type, name, or rule.
Error Full Step condition (error) Converts configured error behavior to step conditions.
File Browse Full Controlled Document file variable Lets users choose a file for a converted app run.
Filter Full Filter transform Splits records by expression into true and false paths.
Find Nearest Full Spatial Find Nearest Distance-ranked nearest-neighbor join in the database.
Fit Full ML: Train Model Collapses into the fused ML Train step.
Folder Browse Full Controlled Document folder variable Lets users choose a folder for a converted app run.
Formula Full Formula transform Converts field expressions to PlaidCloud expressions or SQL.
Fuzzy Match Full Fuzzy matching executor Matches on keys, thresholds, and candidate review.
Generalize Full Spatial Generalize Simplifies geometry to a tolerance, preserving topology.
HTML Full Report text / HTML artifact Preserves content as report or artifact output.
Image Processing Full Image transform executor Applies grayscale, scale, crop, and rotation in canvas order.
Image Profile Full Image profile executor Reports dimensions, mode, format, channels, and luminance statistics.
Image to Text Full OCR executor Extracts text from images through managed OCR.
Input Data Full Document-backed file input Loads .yxdb, .dbf, Excel, and fixed-width .flat source files into workflow data.
Insights Full Dashboard / artifact output Creates a cloud-native review artifact.
Interactive Chart Full Chart artifact Creates a chart artifact from converted data.
Join Full Join transform Produces joined, left-only, and right-only streams on a single- or multi-field key or by position.
Join Multiple Full Multi-join transform Joins multiple input streams.
Line To Polygon Full Line To Polygon executor op Closes each line into a polygon ring, appended as a Polygon column.
List Box Full Controlled workflow variable Converts app list selections to controlled input.
Macro calls Full Macro invocation Imports known macro sources and maps macro calls to PlaidCloud macro steps.
Macro Input / Macro Output Full Macro input / output port Map directly to PlaidCloud macro ports.
Make Grid Full Spatial Make Grid Tiles an extent into square cells, one row per cell.
Map Full Map artifact Creates a PlaidCloud map artifact.
Map Input Full Spatial File Import Reads MapInfo, ESRI, KML, and GeoJSON files with their sidecars.
Message Full Step condition (message) Emits workflow warning, message, or error from a condition.
Modeling Full ML: Train Model Fuses into the ML Train step with the pipeline’s model choice.
Multi-Field Formula Full Multi-field formula transform Applies a formula across selected fields.
Multi-Row Formula Full Window / row-aware formula transform Converts row-relative logic to window behavior, partitioned by Group By.
Numeric Up Down Full Controlled numeric variable Converts app numeric input to a typed variable.
Output Data Full Document / table output Writes output to Document or PlaidCloud tables.
Overlay Full Spatial Process Intersect, union, or cut two geometry columns.
PDF Input Full PDF extraction executor Extracts text or tables from PDFs.
Point To Line Full Point To Line executor op Threads each group’s points into one SequenceLine per group, ordered by the sequence field.
Poly-Build Full Spatial Poly-Build Builds a polygon or convex hull per group of points.
Poly-Split Full Spatial Poly-Split One row per vertex, component polygon, or hole.
Portfolio Composer (Text / Table / Image / Layout / Render) Full Report artifacts Convert report content, layout, and rendering to PlaidCloud report output.
Predict Full ML: Score Scores data with the trained model table and appends a prediction column.
Radio Button Full Controlled workflow variable Converts app radio choices to controlled input.
Random % Sample Full Table Extract (random) Returns the exact count or percentage of records requested.
Record ID Full Row identifier transform Adds a deterministic record identifier in the configured type and start value, restarting per group.
Redistribute Full Redistribute executor op Reallocates a measure from one set of geographies onto another by area of overlap, appended as a Redistributed column.
RegEx Full Regular expression transform Parses, matches, or replaces text.
Regression Full ML: Train Model Fuses the Assisted Modeling chain into one ML Train step.
Report Map Full Map report artifact Produces a cloud-native map/report artifact.
Sample Full Sample transform Keeps records by count, percentage, or grouping.
Select Full Select and schema projection step Selects, renames, reorders, and retypes fields.
Smooth Full Spatial Smooth Smooths each geometry over a number of passes.
Sort Full Sort transform Sorts records by configured fields and directions.
Spatial Info Full Spatial Info Area, length, centroid, and bounding rectangle as geodesic measures.
Spatial Match Full Spatial Match / Spatial Match (Intersect / Unmatched) Converts every relationship — Within, Contains, Intersects, Touches, Crosses, Overlaps, and Centroid-In — matched in the database or the workflow engine.
Spatial Process Full Spatial Process Intersect, union, or cut geometry columns.
Summarize Full Aggregate transform Groups and aggregates — sum, count, average, min, max, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and count distinct.
Tab Full App tab grouping Preserved as converted app structure.
Test Full Step condition Converts test assertions to step conditions.
Text Box Full Controlled text variable Converts app text input to a typed variable.
Text Input Full Inline table input Creates inline data for the workflow.
Text Pre-processing Full NLP preprocessing executor Normalizes and preprocesses text.
Text To Columns Full Split columns transform Splits text into fields or rows.
Tile Full Tile / grouping transform Assigns tile groups by configured rule.
Tool Container Full Canvas container / execution group Preserved as workflow organization.
Topic Modeling Full Topic modeling executor Runs topic modeling through managed NLP.
Transformation Full Transform step Converts transformation logic to PlaidCloud expressions or SQL.
Transpose Full Unpivot transform Converts columns to rows into a Name/Value pair.
Tree Full Controlled workflow variable Converts app tree selection to controlled input.
Union Full Union transform Combines streams by name, position, or configured rules.
Unique Full Unique / duplicate split transform Separates first-unique records from duplicates.
Visual Layout Full Canvas layout metadata Preserved as design context.
Word Cloud Full Text visualization artifact Creates a visualization artifact from text analysis.
XML Parse Full XML parse transform Extracts XML fields into workflow data.
Trade Area Partial Spatial Trade Area Concentric buffers sized in real-world units, in fixed-radius mode. Drive-time trade areas — minutes on a road network — are not yet reproduced.
Image Template Partial Image Template executor op Manual mode crops the image to each region you draw on the template, emitting one row per region. Automatic mode, which detects the regions on the page itself, is not yet reproduced — draw the regions in Manual mode instead.
Image Recognition Not supported ML: Score Trains a deep-learning image classifier from pretrained weights; the parity image carries no deep-learning framework or starting weights, so it can neither train nor score. Train and score the classifier outside PlaidCloud, then bring predictions in through ML: Score, which reads the same model table.
Geocoder Not supported Geocoding service connection Resolves addresses to coordinates against a reference dataset PlaidCloud does not carry; the conversion names the tool rather than guessing. Connect a geocoding service and geocode through it.

Interface widgets (drop-downs, list boxes, check boxes, text/numeric/date inputs, file and folder pickers), canvas objects (comments, links, containers), and macro ports all convert as native controlled variables or canvas objects.

Every tool in the Alteryx Spatial palette has a PlaidCloud route, and every one of those routes is a step you can also build by hand — conversion is a convenience, not the only way in. See Geospatial steps for the full reference and Geospatial Analytics for how they fit together.

Alteryx Spatial Tool PlaidCloud Route Runs In
Buffer Spatial Buffer Workflow engine
Centroid Centroid executor op Workflow engine
Convex Hull Convex Hull executor op Workflow engine
Create Points Table Extract expression Database
Distance Table Extract expression Database
Find Nearest Spatial Find Nearest Database
Generalize Spatial Generalize Workflow engine
Heat Map Heat Map (macro) Workflow engine
Line To Polygon Line To Polygon executor op Workflow engine
Make Grid Spatial Make Grid Workflow engine
Point To Line Point To Line executor op Workflow engine
Poly-Build Spatial Poly-Build Workflow engine
Poly-Split Spatial Poly-Split Workflow engine
Redistribute Redistribute executor op Workflow engine
Smooth Spatial Smooth Workflow engine
Spatial Info Spatial Info Workflow engine
Spatial Match Spatial Match Database
Spatial Match — intersection object, Unmatched Spatial Match (Intersect / Unmatched) Workflow engine
Spatial Process Spatial Process Workflow engine
Trade Area (fixed radius) Spatial Trade Area Workflow engine
Pie Wedge Trade Area Pie Wedge Trade Area (macro) Workflow engine
Spatial file input Spatial File Import Workflow engine
Summarize — SpatialObjCombine, SpatialObjConvexHull Spatial Combine Workflow engine
Report Map Report Map Workflow engine
  • Drive-time trade areas. Trade Area converts in fixed-radius mode. There is no factor that turns minutes on a road network into a distance, so drive-time sizing does not convert.
  • The .geo GeoFile format. Alteryx’s proprietary binary GeoFile cannot be read. Conversion fails closed rather than emitting an import that crashes at run time; other spatial formats are unaffected.
  • Some Spatial Info measures. Object type, part count, point count, Peano key, and end-point coordinates have no verified parity definition and are skipped. Conversion names the dropped measures in a note.
  • Non-floating-point Create Points modes. Coordinates stored as integers scaled by 1,000,000, or already projected, are flagged for upstream rescaling rather than converted into mis-scaled points.
  • Make Grid and Poly-Split configuration forms. Both step types run correctly, but neither has a configuration form in the workflow designer yet; converted steps carry their settings, and hand-authoring goes through the API or MCP.

An Alteryx Calgary database (.cydb) is a proprietary indexed store PlaidCloud cannot open. Conversion treats each one as standing for one ordinary PlaidCloud table, named calgary_<database name>, so the tools built around it convert as ordinary table operations rather than refusing outright. See Calgary Databases for how the stand-in table works, and Calgary Join and Cross Count Append for the index-matching tools.

Alteryx Calgary Tool PlaidCloud Route Converts
Calgary Loader Table Extract writing calgary_<database> Yes, once the database is named and it stores at least one data field.
Calgary Input Dynamic Document input reading calgary_<database>, with the saved query as filter Yes, including a query built from an Or or wrapped in a Not. Refuses on contains/starts-with/spatial queries and on Skip Records/Max Records limits.
Calgary Input (Count Only) / Calgary Cross Count Aggregate transform over calgary_<database> Yes, including a bucket built from an Or or wrapped in a Not. Refuses on a cross over more than one custom field, and on a count-only read naming no column to count over.
Calgary Join Dynamic Document input matching each record of its input against calgary_<database> When the incoming field is a plain value matched against a value index — including Count Only mode, which counts the database records each input record matched, a record matching nothing counting zero. Refuses when the field is spatial (rebuild as Spatial Match) or its type is unresolved, and on range-index or unmatched-output-wired Joins, on a Join naming no match field, and on a Join with nothing wired to its input.
Calgary Cross Count Append Dynamic Document input matching each record, then a counted join over calgary_<database> When the incoming field is a plain value matched against a value index: it counts, per input record, the database records matched, and a record that matched nothing counts zero. Refuses on a spatial or unresolved index (rebuild as Spatial Match), a custom-value cross-count grid, a range index, and a match naming no field.
  • A Calgary Cross Count Append over a custom-value cross-count grid doesn’t convert. A single plain cross-count field converts — it counts, per input record, the matching database records — but a grid of named custom values would append one count column per value, and Alteryx documents neither how many columns that is nor what it names them.
  • A Calgary Join or Cross Count Append matched against a spatial index refuses, naming the stand-in table and pointing at Spatial Match — the workflow file records the index’s name but not whether it holds ordinary values or spatial geometry.
  • Contains, starts-with, and spatial-lookup queries don’t convert. Only indexed value and range comparisons do.
  • A read limited by Skip Records or Max Records doesn’t convert — the stand-in table carries no record order.
  • A Calgary Loader that stores no data field doesn’t convert, since the table it wrote would have no columns.
  • A database read before it has been loaded stops, naming the table to build. This is the common case for the demographic and reference .cydb files Alteryx ships, which nothing in your workflow wrote.

Alteryx’s connector endpoints — Salesforce, HTTP, Google Analytics, Cassandra, email, Hadoop, and Spark, in both directions — do not convert, because PlaidCloud reaches these systems through a connection rather than through a tool on the canvas. Each one refuses by name and states where the work belongs:

Alteryx Tool Where It Goes in PlaidCloud
Salesforce Input / Output A Salesforce connection
HTTP Input A REST Request step against a REST connection
Google Analytics Input Import: Singer Source with the Google Analytics tap
Cassandra Input Import: Singer Source with the Cassandra tap
Email Input Import: Singer Source with the GMail tap
Hadoop Input / Output Import: SQL / Export: SQL through a Hive, Impala or Presto connection
Spark Input / Output Import: SQL / Export: SQL through a Databricks connection

Three of these have no write path at all. PlaidCloud reads Google Analytics and Cassandra but never writes to them, so a Google Analytics Output or Cassandra Output tool becomes an Export: SQL to a supported destination instead. Email is not a data destination either: Notify: Email sends a notification to people, so an Email Output tool becomes an Export step plus a separate notification.

For production workflows, validate converted outputs against trusted Alteryx outputs — PlaidCloud validation focuses on schema, row count, and row values, and ignores row order unless the workflow depends on it. Specialized operations (spatial, fuzzy matching, OCR, NLP, reporting) run through managed job executors that keep the workflow cloud-native; machine-learning pipelines convert to the native ML: Train Model and ML: Score steps. See Migrate Alteryx Workflows for the end-to-end import and validation guide.